Spice can rack



Sept 22, 1931- o. J. PHELPs ET AL 1,824,230

SPICE CNv RACK Filed nec. 1e, 1929 l il Qu. witness 'I '1 'f' l 0. JP/Zelp'? -ZZ'aaZZUIL xl l SMV@ @Mot/up Patented Sept. 22, 1931 Unirse STATES PATENT orifice OLEVER J. PHELPS AND DAVI F. EASTBUEN, OF SALEM, OREGON SIICE CAN RACK Application led December 16, 1929. SerialNo. 414,378.

The invention aims to provide an exceptionally simple and inexpensive, yet a very desirable rack for holding a plurality of spice cans or other articles, the construction being such that one row. offcans is normally accessibly exposed and a second row may be similarly exposed by inverting the can-supporting portion of the rack. y

With the foregoing in view, the inven- 0 tion resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section cut longitudinally through one end portion of the device.

rl`he drawings above briefly described illustrate the preferred form of construction and while this construction will be herein specifically explained, it is to be understood that within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

The numeral 5 denotes two vertical end walls whose shape is somewhat that of a parallelogram, although the longitudinal edges of these walls may be curved as shown, instead of straight. A bottom 6 and a top 6 extend between the end walls 5 and are secured thereto, the front longitudinal edge of the bottom 6 being provided with a vertical flange 7, while the rear longitudinalk edge of the top 6 is provided with a similar flange 7. Secured to and projecting rearwardly from the rear edge of the bottom 6, are a number of spring lingers S preferably formed from wire, and a plurality of similar fingers 8 project forwardly from the upper longitudinal edge of the top 6.

A longitudinal shaft 9 passes centrally through and is secured to the end walls 5, provision is made for rotatably mounting this shaft, a knob 10 is provided for rodetent 1l, is provided for normally holding the shaft and rack against rotation.

In the present showing, two vertical end walls 12 are disposed at the outer sides of the end walls 5 and are provided with beartating it, and means such as a spring-pressed ing openings 13 in which the ends of the shaft 9 are rotatably received, the inner side of one of said walls 12 being provided with vtwo shallow sockets 14 and 14, in either of 'the end walls 5. The walls 12 project above the rotatably mounted rack and support a shelf 15 and a back 16, which shelf and back secure said walls in fixed relation with each other.

lnusing the device, it may either rest upon a shelf, table or other support, or may be hung upon the wall. The cans C of spices, or other articles to be held by the rack, are inserted behind the flanges 7 and 7 and engaged with the spring fingers 8 and 8', the shaft 9v serving to limit the amount of insertion. The spring detent 11 when engagedA with the socket 14, holds the rotatable rack in such position that one row of the cans C is exposed accessibly, and by simply invertingl the rack Vby means of the knob l0 so that detent 11 snaps into the socket 14e', the other row of cans is placed in vposition for quick and easy withdrawal. Hence, the device may be easily and advantageously `used for holdingf quite a number of cans and allowing any one to be removed and reinserted with ease, whenever necessary.

As above stated, the details disclosed are preferably followed, but within the scope of the invention as claimed, variations may be made.

We claim l. A rack of the class described comprising end walls, a top and a bottom extending between and secured to said end walls, a central longitudinal divider disposed between said top and said bottom and extending between said end walls to limit inward movement of articles into the space between said bottom and top, releasable means for holding the articles against the upper side of said bottom and against the lower side of said top, means rotatably supporting said end walls to allowv complete inversion of the rack, and releasable means for normally holding the rack against rotation.

VEizo 2. A rack of the class described comprising Vend Walls, a top and a bottom extending between and secured to said end Walls, a longitudinal shaft between said top and Isaid bottom, said shaft passing oeiitrally through said end Walls and acting as means for limiting .insertion of articles into the space betweenjsaid bottom and top7 ineans supporting said shaft to rotatably mount the rack and allow complete inversion of the rack, releasable-means for holding the articles against the upper side of said bottom and against the lower side of said top, and releasable means for normally holding- Y the rack against rotation.

3. A rack of the Class described. comprising two end Wallsya top and a bottom extending between and secured to said end "iva-lis, the front longitudinal edge of said bott-oni andthe rear longitudinal edge of -sai-dtopbeing provided With a vertical Canietainingiflange, a plurality of can-engaging spring lingers projecting forwardly from :thefiont edge of said top, a plurality of can-engaging spring fingers projecting rear- Wardly from the rear edge of said bottoni,

means `rotatably supporting said end Walls to allow Completeinversion of the rack, and `releasable means for normally holding the rack against l rotation.

4. A rac-k of the class described compris- A ingtivo end Walls, a top and a bottoni extending between and secured to said end jWa-lfls, the front longitudinal edge of said bottoni and the rear longitudinal edge of said top bei-ng provided with a vertical cani'etaiiiin-g lia-nge, a plurali y of can-engag- ,inig spring fingers projecting forwardly from the front edgey of said top, a plurality -ot-can-engaging Vspring lingers projecting rearwardly from the rear edge oi said bottoni., a shaft 'passing longitudinally through ythe centers of'said end Walls and serving as means for limiting the insertion of cans i-n-to the rack, means supporting said shaft to rotatably mount the rack and allow comfplete inversion thereof, and releasable means for normally holding the rack against rotation. a

In testimony whereof We have hereunto allixed our signatures. i OLIVER J. PHELPS.

' DAVID F. EASTBURN. 

